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PADSThe Cary UMC, along with other McHenry County churches, partners with the McHenry County P.A.D.S. program to provide services for the poor and homeless of McHenry County. Our role is to provide emergency food and shelter, that P.A.D.S. does not have the capacity to provide, during the colder months of the year from October 1 through April 30th. Please click here if you are interested in becoming a Cary UMC PADS Volunteer. Scriptural AuthorityMatthew, chapter 25, versus 31 through 46: “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in…” The righteous are confused and ask “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?” His response: “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
HistoryThe McHenry County P.A.D.S. (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) program started in 1988 and Cary UMC is a founding member. At the time, there was concern for the growing numbers of homeless in McHenry County and the need for the Faith Community to step up and provide basic emergency services. A letter was sent inviting all the churches in the county to meet and discuss how to address this concern. Despite the challenges, the program started and Cary UMC has been there every step of the way. In 2007, due to concerns over the long-term viability and financial needs of the program, the McHenry County P.A.D.S. Day Center, Transitional Housing and services provided by those facilities merged with Pioneer Center for Human Services, an established non-profit organization that started by providing services for the developmentally disabled. Since the merger, Pioneer owns the brand name and properties for McHenry County P.A.D.S. and the Board of Directors was dissolved. While our relationship with McHenry County P.A.D.S. is different, services the Cary UMC Emergency Shelter provides has not changed. Each of the PADS Shelters are autonomous in that they are independently managed and funded. As they are separate from McHenry County P.A.D.S., no funding is provided by McHenry County P.A.D.S. or Pioneer Center for Human Services. PartnershipAt Cary UMC, the PADS program is unique in that we partner with other churches in our area. Each weekend is managed by a dedicated veteran of their congregation or parish. The teams are as follows:
Cary United Methodist Church provides the facilities and utilities used by the Cary UMC PADS program. There are 5 rooms, a kitchen and bathroom facilities that make up what was the original Fellowship Hall. The kitchen is used almost exclusively by PADS program as a new Fellowship Hall was built in the new addition of the church. FinancesThe finances of the Cary UMC PADS program are separate from that of the church and are held in a separate account. Donations given to Cary UMC PADS are used to purchase food, supplies and services that directly support the Cary UMC PADS program and the Homeless of McHenry County, Illinois. Please help us to help the Homeless. Contributions can be sent to: Cary UMC PADS ContactPlease feel free to contact us. Thanks for your interest in supporting the Homeless of McHenry County. |
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